Tractor mounted cultivator



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR.

FANK T. COURT 1951 F. T. COURT TRACTOR MOUNTED CULTIVATOR Nov. 27,

Filed May 28, 1945 ATTORNEYS WITNESS Nov. 27, 1951 F. T. COURT TRACTOR MOUNTED CULTIVATOR 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed May 28, 1945 IN VENTOR. RANK T. COURT ATTORNEYS WITNESS :76 law Patented Nov. 27, 1951 Frank intuit, Marine, 111., assent-r t6 beat a compan Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 2a 1945, Seriali io. s'ejz-i is 'Ciainis'.

The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and more particularly to implements of the integral type, that is, implements adapted to be supported substantially entirely on the tractor. A I I The object and general nature of this invention is the provision of a quick-detachable implement adapted to be readily connected to the tractor by power derived from the tractor power lift, and a further important feature of this invention is the provision of a novel cultivator of the tractor mounted type especially constructed to' provide for ready and convenient adjustment of the tools laterally relative to the tractor and also for adjustment to a position to readily ac: c'ommodate the movement of the tractor away from the implement when the latter is to be disconnected therefrom. More specifically, it is a feature of this invention to provide for connection and disconnection of the implement relative to the tractor by operation of the power lift; and in which the means that connects and disconnects the tractor from the implement also automatically provides for shifting the front tools toward and away from a position adjacent one another facilitating passage of the tractor over a portion of the implement into and out of a position' mounting the implement on the tractor.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration or the iollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which one preferred form of the .presentinvention has been illustrated. I I

Inthe drawings; W

Figure l is a fragmentary view of a farm tractor of the type particularly adapted to receive an implement, such as the tractor cultivator just referred to. t t

t Figure 2 is a perspective view of the implement showing the same in the position the parts occupy when the implement is mounted on the tractor and in operating "position. In Figure 2, however. the showing of th'tra'ct'ir has been eliminated foifpurpos'es bf clarity t I Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the implement detached from the tractor with the parts of the implement in a position to facilitate driving the tractor away from the implement. This is also the position in which the implement parts are disposed when the implement is to be mounted on the tractor.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary viewsfh'owirig' the rear" ptrt'ion of the implement with the parts thereof in the positions they occupy when the implement is mounted on a trac oiaad the front and rear tools of the implement raised into their transport position. a V p 5 Referrn "owte the drvv'irigs, particularly Figure '1, th reference ,nu eral l :in'dicatesa fafin tractor and the iiefere c' 'n'iiineral {indi cats the implement that may, amus ng to the principles of the resent be readily disconnected from or connected to the tractor I.

The latter comer structure, so far as,

cerned, ans e'mtcdis re I a p I a power plant 5 and a 1' aine 5 'Tlie 'traeton i has an operator's seat '1 dispos d abqte and/or ierwarmy' time latter '4. ant ti re r v wheels are -corinec'ted to stub aiiles 8 that t j ournaled for rotation in a pair of drop ous ngs s ref ning a, pa or'a .r'ear age structure 10 which caterer s Th tractdr ispro id para'tusiridieate dinfits b n numeral T5,, whien may tali any suitable form,

I in s aman i 1949, as atent No. 2,482,249. 'flhle p wer lift at:

paratus; s is con ate-a any suitable vt with a transverse ro'c Sh it I! t6 'hich" at of ms:-

er'atin'g arrrif w orl? at ac sideef t e tra t j,

is nae-a. The mar ini is also connected Wltii fii esrebruat 12 1945; ,1 t p I be made necessary. Briefly, the implement lifting and locking mehanisfii 2fl inc'luds" a transverse shaft 2 1 titties arms "2': are area, the star 21 Being" cdafieaea tt be dp'erated', a the option of the o egatmgirm the rojclr's'liaft ll. Links 23 are cdrineet ed the oute'rerid of the arms 22 and at their ends the links 23 ar t n 2 5- l inne im wer r'ei- A er' l a f e hem is a br qket e to th mete i a m andr 'i ma r-i at each bracketzfi has a rearwardly facing socket or opening .21 which is tapered and which form implem'e'fitfreceivingf niafls' at. t le rear of the tractor. The slots at clies "f1 are tapered rear wardlyto facilitate bac i i e tm o r sitionl w engage the brackets 25' with the rear portion of the implement. Then, as more clearly disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 577,577, the lower ends of the links 23 may be engaged with the front portion of the implement, whereupon by operating the power lift the implement may be drawn upwardly into firm rigid connection. with the tractor and locked thereto by the links and arms 22 and 23 passing overcenter.

The power operated mechanism for engaging, lifting and locking the implement onto the tractor forms the subject matter of my co-pending application Serial No. 577,577, and is explained in detail therein.

The present invention is more especially concerned with a particular kind of implement especially adapted for use with a tractor and lifting and locking apparatus such as those referred to above. ures 2.and 3, the implement 2 comprises frame means 30, which includes right and left hand beam members 3I and 32 normally disposed generally longitudinally of the tractor and including vertical sleeve sections 33, one at the rear end of of each of said beams. The sleeve sections 33 receive the downturned ends 34 of a transverse frame member 35 which is made up of a pipe or shaft section having th downturned ends 34 just mentioned and carrying a pair of brackets 36 and 37 rigidly fixed, as by welding, thereto. The brackets 36 and 37 are spaced so that sections 39 are provided on the member 35 to receive the tapered notches or sockets 27 on the tractor I. The beams'3l and 32 are free to swing laterally, toward and away from one another about their rear connections with the downturned ends 34 of the member 35.

Secured to each end of the beam members 3| and 32 is a pair of bracket plates42 apertured to receive pivots 43 and 44 by which a pair of generally parallel links 47 and 48 are connected thereto. The forward ends of each pair of links 47 and 48 is connected by pivots I and 52 to a pair of bracket plates 53. The front edge of each of these plates is notched'to receive a cultivator rig beam 57, the latter h'aving a laterally bent section 58 welded or otherwise fixed to the notches just mentioned. Each cultivator rig beam includes a forward section 65 and a rearwardly directed' section 62, and to each of these sections one or more cultivator shovel units 63 are fixed by suitable clamping means. By virtue of the parallel link connection 47, 48, each rig beam 57 is arranged for generally vertical shifting movement with respect to the frame 30. An arm 68 is connected to each of the lower links 48 and is apertured at its upper end as at 69 to receive the forward end of a link member I49, the rear end of which is suitably connected to the power lift arm I8, as shown in Figure 1. A third arm 72 is also connected at its lower end to the right hand parallel link member 48 and is apertured to receive a pivot pin 73 by which the front end of a generally longitudinally extending member 74 is connected thereto.

A pair of rear tool beam-s 8| and 82 is pivoted, as at 83, to the rear ends of the main beam members 3| and 32, the pivots 83 being carried by brackets 84 fixed to the beams 3I and 32. Each of the rear rig beams 8| and 82 is provided with a laterally outturned section '87 to which a rear tool 88 is connected by suitable clamping means 89. Each of the brackets 36 and 37 is aper- Referring now more particularly to Figeach of the arms 92 is connected by a swivel 93 to the upper end of a lifting link 94, the lower end of which is pivoted to a lug 95 carried by the rig beam associated therewith. A compression spring 99 is disposed between the swivel 93 and an adjusting collar 96. A second collar 97 is carried adjustably at the upper end of each of the lifting rods 94. By swinging the arms 92 upwardly the tool beams 8I and 82 may be raised, and by forcing the arms 92 downwardly the springs 99 are compressed and act to force the tools 88 into the ground. The shaft 9| is rocked so as to raise and lower the tools 88 according to the raising and lowering of the front tools 63. To this end, the right hand bracket 37 is extended, as at IIII, and carries a pivot pin I82 by which a lever I03 is swingably connected at an intermediate point thereto. The upper end of the lever I03 is pivoted, as at I84, to a link I85, the forward end of which is connected, as at I06, to the upper end of an arm I07 that is fixed to the rockshaft 9I The lower end of the lever I93 carries a swivel eye member I I3, and this member is normally movable along the rear end of the longitudinally extending member 74 between a set screw collar II 4 and a fixed collar II5, which may be welded or otherwised fixed to the rod 74. A fairly heavy spring H7 is connected between the outer end II8 of the rod or pipe member 74 and the upper end of the arm I07 for a purpose which will be explained in detail later. The right hand arm 92 is provided with an extension I2I which is pivoted to receive the rear end of a rod I22, the forward end of which passes through an opening in a bracket I23 fixed to the longitudinally extending member 74. A

spring I24 is disposed about the front end ofthe rod I22 and is confined between the bracket I23 and an adjusting nut I25 on the front end of the rod I22.

The main beam members 3| and 32, which pref erably are hollow, carry pairs of brackets I35 which are bolted, as at I36, or otherwise secured to the beam members. The upper or outer end of each of the brackets I35 is provided with a square opening I37, and mounted in these square openings I37 is a square shaft or rod I38. Arms I39 are fixed to the square rod I38 and have hook ends I4I which form sockets or notches I42. The square shaft member I38 fits fairly snugly in the square openings I37 but there is sufficient looseness to permit the beams 3| and 32 to be swung toward or away from one another when no force is applied to the arms I 39. If, for example, however, a lifting force should be applied to the arms I39, tending to rock the square shaft I38, the shaft clamps the edges of the openings in the lugs I35 and by such clamping action secures the beams 3I and 32 against lateral displacement.

The operation of the implement described above is substantially as follows. Referring first to Figure 3, which shows the implement 2 detached from the tractor and resting on the ground, the front tools 63 bear on the ground surface, as do the rear tools 88. However, the rear end of the frame 38 is held in an elevated position, particularly the cross member 35, by virtue of the spring I I7 which exerts substantially sufficient force to prevent the rear end of the tured to receive'a rear cross shaft'9l to each end H of which an arm '92 is fixed. The rear end of frame from sagging downwardly. By bringing the front ends of the beams 3I and 32, and also the front ends of the rig beams 57, close together, the tractor I may be back-ed into position over the tools and implement frame until'the notches or tapered openings '27 on the tractor engage the v 5 sections 39 of the implement cross frame'bar 35". when this engagement is fic'te'd the tractor is stopped and the operator di'S'IhtfLmts an swings the arms 23' downwardly, b'fiil'giiig' the studs 24 ifito the sockets I42 on the arms 39 The L erator then mounts the tractor and operates the power lift. This swings the arms 22 forwardly and upwardly, which exerts a forward and um ward force on the arms I39. The upward force applied to the arms [39 tend to rock the square shaft I38 slightly in the lugopeniiigs, and this will immediately clamp thebar B8 to the lt'ii s and thus hold the beams 3i and 32' m laterally spaced apart position. For this reason, it is neces's-ary for the operator before operating the power lift to separate the front tools 63, prefe'rably shifting them, together with the main beam members 3! and 32, into some such position as is illustrated in Figure 2-, for example. Then the operator actuates the power lift and causes the arms 22 to swing the links 23 upwardly and finally into an overcenter position in which the frame 30 is then locked to the tractor. At the same time, of course, the lateral adjust-'- merit of the tools is secured and retained by the continued upward force directed to the socket ends of the arms I39, which keeps the squareshaft clamped to the lugs l35.

Lastly, the rod M 9 connecting the power lift arms [8 with the arms 68 onthe lower links 48 are cennected by installing suitable pivots; and since the longitudinally extending rod or pipe member 16- connects' the rear tools with the front tools, operating the power unit on the tractor to swing the arms I8 causes the front and rear tools to raise or lower to different operatingdepths. Also, the power lift unit on the tractor may be actuated to swing both sets of tools upwa-rcll'y into their transport or fully raised positidfr.

More specifically, when the front tools are raised, as by swinging the power lift arms IS onthe tractor rearwardl-y, a rearward thrust is exerted through the longitudinally extending member 14, bringing the fixed collar H up against the swivel eye member H3. This swings the arm into a position in which it passes evrcenter with respect to the link I65, swinging the arm Hi'l forwardly. The arm is? car'- ris a step his I58 which limits and defines the aforesaid overcen-ter positions. This forward movement of the arm It! acts through the lifting arms 92 to raise the rear tools. The outfit may then be drivento a field for operation, and when that field is reached and it isdesiredto begin cultivating, the operator actuates the power lift to" swing the arms 18' fhr'war'dly' the amount necessary to secure the desired depth of operation. Generally, each arm- It? carries a c'o'l-' lar' i513 through which the rod I49 slides, there being a springl52 and an adjusting collar [5-3 on the rod I49 so that the tools are held in their operating position by yielding means, siini lar to the yielding provided by the rear springs It will be noted, particularly from Figiire 4, that the collar I M is a substantial distance rearwardly of the fixed collar 515. Therefore, when the front tools are lowered intotheir operating position, resulting in a forwardmovement of the longitudinally I extending pipe ember M; the rear tools are held up in their transport or fully raised position by the overcenter links H33, Hi5, the tol's being retained in their raised positidn until the front tools 63 's'ta'rt'tfo work the soil; At

aerated aliens this point, depending upon the osition of adiustment of the collar N4, the anemones ihtfi engagement with the swivel eye member H3 so that continued forward I movement, first; breaks the toggle overcenter lock I03, I05, and secon permits the rear tools to lower imme diately, aided in this action by the spring in, if necessary. Thus, by virtue of this delayed action, the rear tools are not lowered mm operating' position until substantially the point on the grdiind' where the front tools initially began their operation, Continued forward movement of the longitudinally extending member 14- as t e front tools move downwardly to their finai depth of operation results in the rearward swi ms or. the arm It? and the arms 92, thus app. ih'g' further downward pressure thr'olih the springs 93 against the rear tools.

When it is desired to raise the tools intd a trans ort position, as at the end of a row, the power lift unit is operated to swingthe arms 18 rearwardly', thus moving the parallel links H, 4's upwardly. This movement causes the magitud'inally extending member 14 to be thrust rear": wardly. However, by virtue of the space between the collars H4 and H5; a lost motion conned tan is provided so that, in effect, the from; 3051s are raised substantially out' of the ground b= fore the fixed collar [[5 comes up against the swivel eye H3, which then begins the lifting ac: tion of the rear tools. However, the arm 12 is longer than the arms "68 so that by the time the fr "nt tools are raised into their full-y raised position, the rear tools have also been raised into fully raised position and, additiolially; th lin H33 and {E35 have; gone overcenter. Thus; at the end of the row, the rear tools are not lift ed out of the ground until about the point along the surface of the ground where the front tools raised; It will be observed that this action ta es place automatically and without attention on the part of the operator except the single diity of operating the power lift to raise or lower the tools. The amount of lost motion, and hence the point of operation of the reartools'relative to the front tools, may be adjusted by changing are elative positions of the set screw sonar n4 am ne set screw oma-rs 96 and 91 p when it is desired to disconnect the impie: iiient 2 from the tractor I, all thatth'e operator has to do is disconnect the rods I43 fi ofri' the ar ests and then operate the power lift to swing the lifting and making arms 22 downwardly. This permits the rear end of the frame to disconnect from the tractor brackets 26 and arse permits the links new be swung manually away from the sockets. I42 in. the arms I59. The operator thenmoves the front ends of. the ciiltivator rigs 6| toward one another so as to narrow the implement, into the position shown iii Fig .ure 3. The. tractor may then be driven forwardly and away from the implement without colliding with any of the parts. If he spring 1 ll serves to hold the rear end of the frame up into a posi-} tion tofacilitate reengagement ofthe tapered sockets 21 with the sections 39 on the rear cross frame member 35, whenever it is desired to reattach. the implement to the tractor.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention isnot tobe limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that; m fact; widely different w rm,

means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An implement adapted to be mounted on a tractor, said implement comprising a frame adapted to extend generally longitudinally of the tractor and to be mounted thereon, front and rear tools, means for connecting said front and rear tools with said frame for generally vertical movement into and out of raised and lowered positions, means carried by the rear portion of said frame and connected with said rear tools for holding the rear tools in a raised position, means connected with said front tools for raising them into a transport position, means operated by the raising of said front tools for raising said rear tools, said raising means comprising a generally longitudinally extending member connected at its front end with the front tools and having a lost motion connection with said rear tools, means carried by the rear portion of said longitudinally extending member and acting against said rear tool holding means for moving the latter into a position for holding the rear tools in a raised position when said front tools are moved into their raised position, and means also carried by the rear portion of said longitudinally extending member and engageable with said rear tool holding means for moving the latter into a position to permit the rear tools to lower.

2. A tractor mounted implement comprising a frame, front and rear tools connected, respectively, with said frame for generally vertical movement relative thereto, means connected with said front tools for raising and lowering the latter, a longitudinally shiftable member operatively connected at its front end with said front tools and extending rearwardly to a point adjacent said rear tools, means having a lost motion connection with the rear portion of said longi tudinally extending member for moving said rear tools into a raised position, an overcenter linkage connected between the rear portion of said frame and said rear tool moving means for releasably holding said rear tools in a raised position, and means operated by movement of the rear portion of said longitudinal member for releasin said overcenter means so as to provide for lowering said rear tools. 3. An agricultural implement comprising a frame, front tool means swingably connected with the front end portion of said frame, rear tool means swingably connected with the rear end portion of said frame, means connected with said front tool means and reacting against said frame to raise and lower said front tool means, means including a pair of pivotally interconnected links connected between said frame and said rear tool means and movable into an overcenter position to hold said rear tool means in a raised position, and a shiftable connection between said front tool means and said links and operative when said front tool means has been lowered to shift said links out of their overcenter position and release said rear tool means for lowering.

4. An agricultural implement comprising a frame, front tool means swingably connected With the front end portion of said frame, rear tool means swingably connected with the rear end portion of said frame, means connected with said front tool means and reactin -against said frame to raise and lower said front tool means, a rockshaft. mounted on the rear portion of said frame,

' raising and lowering the front tools, an arm pivoted on said frame means adjacent the rear tools and operatively connected to move therewith when said rear tools are raised and lowered, a lever pivoted to said frame adjacent the rear thereof, a link pivotally connecting the outer end of said lever with the outer end of said pivoted arm, said lever and link being adapted to be disposed in an overcenter position to hold said rear tools against downward movement, means having a lost motion connection with said lever and connected with said front tools to be shifted by movement of said front tools when they are lowered, said 10st motion being taken up by the initial lowering of said front tools, further movement of said connectin means serving to shift said lever and link out of their overcenter position, thereby providing a delayed action between the lowering of the rear tools relative to the lowering of said front tools.

6. In an agricultural implement, such as a cul-, tivator, frame means, front and rear tools, means movably connecting said front and rear tools with said frame means, releasable holding means acting between said frame means and said rear tools to hold the rear tools in elevated position, means acting against said frame means and connected with said front tools for raising and lowering the front tools, a longitudinally extending connec- 9 tion connected at its front end with said front tools, means for operating said holdin means including a part with respect to which the rear portion .of said longitudinally extending connection is slidable, and spaced collars on the rear portion of said longitudinal connection and operative after a given extent of movement has occurred to engage and shift said part.

7. The invention set forth in claim 6, further characterized by spring means associated with said longitudinally extending connection and actuated thereby for forcing the rear tools downwardly.

8. In a cultivator, a frame, a pair of cultivator rigs, means movably connecting said rigs with said frame, a rockshaft movably mounted on said frame and having arms operatively connected with said rigs, respectively, a pair of toggle links connected between said frame and said rockshaft and operative in one position to hold said rigs against downward movement, a generally longitudinally extending part movable relative to said frame, and abutment means carried by said part operative when said part is moved in one direction to shift said toggle links into a position to permit said rigs to lower.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8, further characterized by a second abutment means on said longitudinal member and acting against said links when said longitudinal member is shifted in the other direction to raise said rigs and shift said toggle links into locked relation.

10. In a cultivator, a s pporting frame, a pair of cultivator rigs connected with said frame for generally vertical movement, means movably connected with said frame and rigs for raising and lowering the latter, an operating member mounted for generally longitudinal movement relative to said frame, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a link connected between one end of said lever and said raising means, means carried by the other end of said lever for slidably receiving said operating member, a pair of spaced apart abutments on said operating member disposed on opposite sides of said last mentioned means, one of said abutments acting against said last mentioned means when said operating member is moved in one direction to shift said lever to lower said rigs and the other abutment acting against said last mentioned means when said operating member is moved in the other direction to raise said rigs and swing said lever and link into an overcenter locking position, front tool means movably connected with said frame means, means connecting said operating member with said front tool means, there being sufficient space between said abutments so that the front tool means is raised or lowered before the raising or lowering of said rear tool means.

11. An agricultural implement comprising a frame, generally fore and aft spaced tools movably connected therewith, means connecting the rear tools with the rear portion of the frame including a pair of overcenter links, one of said links including a section shiftable generally in a fore and aft direction for shifting said links into and out of an overcenter position, means connected with the front tools and said section for operating said links by the movement of said front tools, and means connected with said front tools for raising and lowering the latter, the connection between said longitudinal member and said section including lost motion means whereby initiation of the raising movement of the rear tools occurs subsequent to the initiation of the raising movement of the front tools.

12. An agricultural implement comprising a frame including a rear transverse member, bracket means carried by said transverse member, tool means swingably connected with the tion with said lever for operating the latter in opposite directions.

13. An agricultural implement adapted to be detachably connected with a tractor, comprising a frame, front and rear tools movably connected with the front and rear portions, respectively, of said frame, a generally fore and aft shiftable member connected at its front end with said front tools, a rockshaft mounted on the rear portion of said frame and operatively connected with said rear tools for raising and lowering the latter relative to said frame, an arm on said rockshaft, connecting means between said arm and the rear portion of said longitudinal frame for rocking said rockshaft and raising and lowering said rear tools when said front tools are raised and lowered, and spring means acting between the rear portion of said longitudinal member and said arm and reacting through said longitudinal member against said front tools for holding the rear portion of said frame in an elevated position when the frame is detached from the tractor and the rear end thereof supported on the rear tools.

14. An implement comprising frame means, front and rear tools connected therewith and adapted to be raised and lowered relative to said frame means, means connected with the front tools and reactin against said frame means for raising and lowering said tools, a connection between the front and rear tools, said connection including lost motion means whereby said front tools may be raised and lowered through at least a part of their range of movement relative to said rear tools, releasable means acting between said frame means and said rear tools for holding said rear tools in a raised position, and means actuated by movement of said connecting means between said front tools and said rear tools when said front tools are moved into their operating position for releasing said holding means to permit the rear tools to lower.

15. A tractor mounted implement comprising front and rear tools connected, respectively, with the tractor for generally vertical movement relative thereto, means for movin said rear tools into and out of raised and lowered positions, including a longitudinally movable member and a part having a lost motion connection with said member and operatively connected with said rear tools, on over-center locking means connected between said rear tools and the tractor for releasably holding said rear tools in a raised position, means on said longitudinally movable member engageable with said cvercenter locking means for releasing the latter, and means operated by the front tools for shifting said iongitudinally movable member.

FRANK T. COURT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,181,824 Stuva Nov. 28, 1939 2,309,158 Benjamin Jan. 26, 1943 2,362,695 Hipple Nov. 14, 1944 

